Mayor and Council April 3rd, 1975

Alderman P.F. Ranger

‘Re: Municipal Elections Every 2 Years

I am suggesting changing the:practice of holding municipal elections

every year “o every other year for the following reasons:

1. | The most obvious benefit would be monetary.. In 1974 the municipal election
cost in the area of $8,040.00. This includes the cost of elector enumeration

which will be an annual expense using the present system.

- Elections every 2 years would give successful candidates a clearer mandate to

carry out programmes of priority and set goals for their term of office.

It woula follow that the naming of Committee Chairmen could be done shortly
after the elections in November. This would give newly-elected members, an

opportunity to have more say in the items to be included in the Provisional
Budget. This procedure would also give Committee Chairmen an opportunity to

meet with thetr Committee members and determine priority items to be included

in the Provisional Budget.

Council's work load would be more evenly distributed over the 2-year period.
Presently many decisions are put off between October and February. The Council

meeting agendas for December, January and February have been very thin.

Council coming up for re~election at the same time might cut down on politica? |

gamesmanship referred to by some as the "silly season"
Public apathy towards municipal elections might improve.

I am not suggesting change for the sake of change, but to encourage a

more efficient method of conducting Council business.

I move that the necessary By-law be drawn up to make provision for the

transition from an annual election to a biennial election of Council.

Respectfully submitted,

Alderman P.F. Ranger.

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